I live in central arkansas, and we don't have very many bats in this area, but last night right at dusk there were a few flying around the pond that I was fishing at. I have never had this happen before, I assumed they were attracted to my nymph flying through the air. Is this a common occurence for any of you?

'Co-habitating' with bats is a common occurrence around here while fishing. The bats will hang out near a water source to feed on the buffet of critters around the habitat. (I'm no bat expert, but I believe the insect life is probably one of the biggest draws for them.) We even have a few that fly around the neighborhood because of back yard pools....

Generally speaking, they will be harmless-- I, as well as others on the board have actually caught a bat while fishing. -- (mine was more of a 'snag' the bat-- as my fly tying isn't that convincing.... LOL)

Anyhow, one word of caution-- They are not the cleanest animals-- if you do have an encounter, even if not bit by the bat-- (just contact with the bat is enough...), Get yourself to the doc and take all of the precautionary steps. I hear rabies is a terrible affliction... Take this last part very seriously: ANY contact with a bat needs to be addressed.

Yes, but only to where I could step on my leader and pop it off. I'd have snapped it off in the air, but I was using my Leonard Bamboo and didn't want to risk the tip.

At that time, the rabies series after being bitten, was at least a dozen sub cutaneous injections in the stomach - I forget the exact number . I had previously administered them several times in SE Asia while an SF Medic there and knew firsthand how excruciatingly painful they were.

I take no chances with animals possibly carrying it. It is 100% fatal if shots are not administered in time.

In North Central Pennsylvania where I grew up bats are part of the late evening landscape. After having them snatch the fly both in the air and often plucking it from the surface of the water I learned that once they took over the creek it was time for me to quit.

__________________Anywhere can be the land of great expectations, broken dreams, or paradise found, it's all up to you.

I was up in Maine last week at GLS & there was a pretty good Caddis hatch & a lot of brookies that were on on them. I fished until after it got dark & was catching fish, ( maybe 1 of 3 takes). Then the bats came out in droves. I was the only one in the pool & they were all around me. They would fly into my line & buzz me. After the second one picked up my fly I called it quits & trudged back to the car. A year or so ago a acquaintance caught a bat & he didn't realize it. He thought he had just picked up some debris & reached down to grab it & he got bit on the thumb. He had to go thru the series of Rabies shots & I understand it was quite painful. I can fish after dark but not with the bats around.......

When this happens to me, it's usually time to consider heading back in. I do notice that the bats seem to get closer when I'm casting but I have been fortunate enough not to hook one. It's usually dark when they come out and I don't mind as they clean the area of bugs so I wish there were more of them-thus I placed a bat house by a tree by my pond.

I've started targeting them specifically.
I catch far more and bigger bats than tout.
I even created a bug just for them. The Griffith's Bat Gnat.

Trying to find a guide in Australia where the fruit bats live for the trip of a lifetime

__________________
"I knew a tier once. One time he was holding a lump of cat hair he found on his couch, sort of twirling it about his fingers, tugging at it. I asked, what in the hell are you doing man? He looked startled, ashamed. But I knew what he was thinking. right then and there I decided to just buy my fly's thankyouverymuch." ~ cwg